Travel Advice and Recommendations During the COVID-19 Outbreak

It is not now, nor has it ever been, easy to be a traveler in America during any time of the year.

From hotel fires to natural disasters, from political unrest to terror attacks,

it seems that every single moment there is something that could happen.

That’s what I’m here for! I’ve put together a list of the best travel advice and recommendations 

I have found on the web pertaining to the COVID-19 outbreak the name of which is a nod towards its original name “COVID-19”.

Firstly, if you have any friends or family in cities known to be affected by the outbreak (the list can be found at bell.io), you should visit them. 

If they are unable to come to you, I recommend that you go to them. 

This is far better than staying on the road and taking your chances running into infected locals.

If your travel plans involve any means of transportation that doesn’t involve highways, such as ferries or subways,

I recommend having a car at your destination. 

If there is no vehicle available at the specified address, I would not advise using public transportation during this outbreak.

If you have a car, I recommend all passengers have flu shots (both seasonal and the new H1N1 shot) before leaving. 

I know that people are generally against taking flu shots,

but this is a very important precaution to take when travelling. 

At the very least, if you’ve been out of town and don’t know when the outbreak started in your city, it’s best to be prepared at all times now.

Items that are helpful but not absolutely necessary:

Protective clothes for the car.

 I recommend long sleeved shirts and pants. 

This is not a hard and fast rule, as I’ve already read several articles on people wearing vests because they’re warm, 

but it can be difficult to find long enough sleeves and long enough pants to wear over your regular clothing. 

If you find something that looks good and has a high-enough level of protection then use it!

Eyewash (or eye wash solution) for each passenger in the car (only if you have them). 

This can be found easily at many pharmacies, but if you are unable to find it, there are online stores that will sell it for you.

Paper tissues.

As passengers we often carry tissues with us at all times (because my daughter has eczema this is very important to us). 

The only way that these tissues become infected is if someone rubs them through their nose or mouth and then touches their eyes. 

I don’t want to sound too paranoid about this, but I usually just carry the most recent tissue I’ve used in my purse (even if it’s been days since I’ve ever touched my eyes) 

 put the others up somewhere well out of sight of the seat or car window.

 A first aid kid. I like the car first aid kits that come with bandages, alcohol wipes, gauze and more. Don’t get one that is too small though!

Paper towels or kleenex (I use both).

 It is better to be safe than sorry when you are out on the road and this also applies to your cleanup efforts, especially

 if you happen to make a mess in your car during an emergency evacuation (which is sometimes unavoidable).

 A flashlight with extra batteries and bulb. 

Don’t skimp here, get a good one. Some cars will come with them, I don’t know any that don’t anymore.

 Old comforters or blankets (not materials that have been treated with flame retardant of any kind).

 If you are asked to leave your car by the police and wait in a shelter, this could help keep you warm. Make sure they are stored away from the windows and doors though!

Iodine tablets.

These can be found at grocery stores and pharmacies for a very cheap price (often under $1). Do not take these if you have an underlying medical condition that requires an iodine supplement. https://fabulousstory.com/

 Extra snacks and water on hand. Everyone has their own personal preferences for what they like to eat/drink,

 so here I’m just assuming everyone will want something simple and fast with a minimal amount of preparation. 

Don’t be too picky here though, car gunk can yield some pretty unappetizing results

and it can ruin your food, which brings me to my next suggestion.

Clumping cat litter

in case of dirt or other road sand or rock particles (especially if you live in a desert area). This is also a great way to clean your car!

 A GPS device.

I think this is a pretty safe move to make especially if you are travelling in unfamiliar areas  or even unfamiliar cities or towns

that have been touched by the outbreak (sometimes it’s difficult to tell what city you’re in).

I recommend getting one that works both in the US and abroad, like this one from Garmin. 

It has excellent reviews on Amazon and an affordable price, plus it has preloaded maps of both countries